May 15, 2013

Mt. Hope community members, government leaders, project partners, and University officials celebrate the groundbreaking of College Town, during a May 2 groundbreaking ceremony. The project will redevelop 14 acres of University-owned property with 500,000 square feet of retail and dining space, hotel and conference facilities, parking, and housing for the Mt. Hope and University communities and area visitors.

“This is a historic day for the City of Rochester,” said President Joel Seligman. “College Town is an excellent model of how public-private partnerships should work. We have enjoyed and been grateful for the incredible support we have received at every level of government, from stakeholders throughout the University community, and pivotally, from our neighbors.”

Special honor

Ron Paprocki, senior vice president for administration and finance, CFO, and treasurer, (pictured with his wife, Kathy) was honored at the College Town groundbreaking on May 2 for the central role he has played in envisioning the project.

At the ceremony, President Joel Seligman announced that a new plaza to be located within College Town will be named for Paprocki.

“Ron’s perseverance and leadership have been vital,” said Seligman. “He has been personally involved in negotiating every aspect of the development agreement and ground lease, including careful attention to financing and legal requirements, the conceptual design plan and overall construction details, environmental issues, and each matter that is vital to a successful project.”